Mobile Grooming Workshop Recap 🚐

Missed it? Watch the Mobile Grooming Meetup replay and catch the highlights.

Author

Alex Martin
October 03, 2025

Happy Friday Daily Groomers!

Last night we had one hell of a workshop with mobile groomers from around the country. Over 150+ attendees hung out with us on Zoom for over an hour. Honestly, there was so much to talk about, we could have gone for hours.

Our panel was a great mix of different mobile groomers at different stages with different perspectives:

  • Bailey (Picture Perfect Mobile Grooming, DFW) — a couple years in, living the entrepreneur’s dream.

  • Elizabeth “Gibbs” (Barkwood Grooming — 3+ vans and a salon, Houston area).

  • Sawyer (Lancaster County, PA — multi-van, difficult-dog niche).

If you joined us live, you know the conversation was PACKED: generators vs. battery systems, pricing without flinching, when to add the next van, and the truth behind your clients relationships as a mobile groomer.

If you missed it, don’t worry. We pulled the highlights plus the full recording so you can dig in anytime. Let’s jump in!

Quick Recap: The Mobile Edge

  • Convenience is your moat. Charge like your time matters—driving, routing, cleaning, and downtime are real costs.

  • Plan for “when it rains, it pours.” Keep 2–3 months of peak revenue on hand for tires, brakes, generators, transmissions—have “a guy” for everything.

  • New vs. used vans: New cuts downtime; used works if the fleet was maintained and you’re vendor-savvy. All panelists highly recommended and use Wag’n Tails for their vans.

Step-by-Step: Power, Pricing, & Growth

  1. Power Systems (What they run today)

    • Gas/diesel Onan + strict oil checks.

    • Battery/Inverter (Wag’n Tails Power Clean): Plug in nightly, minimal maintenance; newer packs support two dryers and stronger A/C.

  2. Pricing & Annual Increases

    • Don’t undercut. Many raise ~5–10%/yr (some target doodles/heavy styles specifically).

    • Models that work:

      • All-inclusive (simple to explain), or

      • Base + travel radius fee ($25/$50/$75) to cover time/wear.

  3. Policies that Protect Your Time

    • Card on file, payment at service or invoice due in 24–48 hrs.

    • Full-price no-shows after multiple reminders.

  4. When to Add the Next Van

    • Signals: perma-full calendar, real waitlist, single-van risk too high.

    • Timeline: budget ~6 months to order, train, deploy.

    • Consider a “1.5 groomer” model to de-risk scheduling.

  5. Mobile + Salon = Training Engine

    • Salon accelerates training/culture and feeds mobile with ready groomers.

    • Two-person vans (driver + lead) smooth operations and safety.

Marketing That Works (Fast)

  • Social = modern TV ad. Post consistently; text clients their pet photos and encourage sharing.

  • Local Facebook groups (“Talk of [City]”) on allowed promo days.

  • B2B referrals: vets, boutiques, shelters/rescues (donate wisely; they refer).

  • Overflow from other mobiles—be their “next best” option.

Q&A Highlights

  • Hourly pricing? Works great for difficult/puppy/senior dogs; panelists shared $115–$125/hr ranges.

  • When is it time for a second van? Signs include a full calendar, a growing waitlist, or too much risk tied to a single vehicle. Most panelists suggested budgeting ~6 months from decision to wheels on the road.

  • Buying & financing: Expect $20–25k down (varies) or explore local-bank commercial loans; a strong accountant is a huge advantage.

Missed It? Catch the Replay

If you couldn’t make it live (or just want to rewatch the gold), the full workshop recording is now on YouTube.

We also pulled together the Q&A notes so you don’t miss the practical tips our panel dropped:

📌 Mobile power systems (generators vs. battery/inverter)

📌 Pricing strategies & annual increase playbooks

📌 Policies that protect your time (cards on file, no-shows, travel fees)

📌 Growth signals — when it’s time to add a second van

Your Next Move

  • Pick 1 improvement: power plan, price raise, or travel-fee tier.

  • Lock policies: card on file + no-show enforcement.

  • Map growth: if the waitlist is real, start the 6-month second-van clock.

  • Automate the admin: let Teddy answer calls, quote, and follow up so you can groom and grow.

Final Word:

“Price like your time matters.” Mobile is convenience + consistency—own both, and your calendar (and margins) will show it.

For the love of grooming,

Alex Martin

That’s all folks! Keep calm and groom on đŸ¶đŸ€˜